Jet 6" JJ6 Jointer #5: finally its all in one piece and ready for making saw dust

After all the dust settled with the screws, I was able to set the jointer knives and all seems to be working great. Ironically the first pieces I jointed are for a mobile base for the jointer which I will describe in a different blog.

Before it went back on the stand, I built a new wooden platform for it and tossed the old one out. I also glued pieces of rubber (the rubber is for making custom gaskets that I had on hand) figuring it would reduce vibration. i am not sure if it helps but it cannot hurt. here is a picture.

While setting the knives, I found (on the web) a lot of different ways to do it with dial gauges and magnets. I used magnets and it seemed to work fairly well. Actually first I set both tables the same height using a dial gauge. Thanks to Howie(another LJ), he let me borrow a dial gauge base that also has a large strong magnet for a base(its from HF). Then I simply placed the magnet across the tables and tighten the set screws at TDC for all 3 knives. The final check was a visual check which involved looking straight across from the infeed table at the same level as the table and you can see the height of the knives real well. Actually I put a paper behind it for contrast and by turning the cutter head you can watch both ends of the knife disappear as it goes below the table. Here is a picture that may clarify it all.

Finally built two push blocks to keep my fingers away from the sharp blades. Here it is ready for action.

Thanks again for all of you who helped me with your comments on the blog as well as PMs (especially Howie and Lee) ..the moral of the story is do not strip your set screws, otherwise its a walk in the park :)

mine is just an abused 10 yr old grizzly. I’m blogging away on my progress, but I took a couple weekends off. Hopefully I’ll get back to it soon, but the bearing replacement stuff has me a bit nervous about proceeding.

Camper,Thanks for the posts on getting this Jet back up and running. I looked at a similar one listed on CL last Sunday and your posts help me get some insight. The manual with the jointer had a 1982 copyright on it. In the end I passed – it needed a bit of work and the guy wanted $225 for it. At $90, I’d probably gone for it.

I agree $225 is a little steep for it. I regularly see jointers of this kind come up for around $100-$150 around Tampa, FL. I am sure a nice one will come your way. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Good Luck!

nice job, I just picked up a slightly newer jj-6 (1984) version. Green paint apparently was first, then blue/grey. mine is blue. I hope I don’t have the bolt issues you had with the bolts for your blades.